Cube of Force icon: a stack of glowing cubes
Icon by Lorc, CC BY 3.0

Cube of Force 5e magic item

Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement) · 2024 version below

Type
Wondrous Items
Rarity
Rare
Attunement
Required
Price (2014)
501–5,000 gp (DMG value range)
Price (2024)
4,000 gp

This cube is about an inch across. Each face has a distinct marking on it that can be pressed. The cube starts with 36 charges, and it regains 1d20 expended charges daily at dawn.

You can use an action to press one of the cube's faces, expending a number of charges based on the chosen face, as shown in the Cube of Force Faces table. Each face has a different effect. If the cube has insufficient charges remaining, nothing happens. Otherwise, a barrier of invisible force springs into existence, forming a cube 15 feet on a side. The barrier is centered on you, moves with you, and lasts for 1 minute, until you use an action to press the cube's sixth face, or the cube runs out of charges. You can change the barrier's effect by pressing a different face of the cube and expending the requisite number of charges, resetting the duration.

If your movement causes the barrier to come into contact with a solid object that can't pass through the cube, you can't move any closer to that object as long as the barrier remains.

Cube of Force Faces

FaceChargesEffect
11Gases, wind, and fog can't pass through the barrier.
22Nonliving matter can't pass through the barrier. Walls, floors, and ceilings can pass through at your discretion.
33Living matter can't pass through the barrier.
44Spell effects can't pass through the barrier.
55Nothing can pass through the barrier. Walls, floors, and ceilings can pass through at your discretion.
60The barrier deactivates.

The cube loses charges when the barrier is targeted by certain spells or comes into contact with certain spell or magic item effects, as shown in the table below.

Spell or ItemCharges Lost
Disintegrate1d12
Horn of blasting1d10
Passwall1d6
Prismatic spray1d20
Wall of fire1d4

How the Cube of Force plays

The cube has 36 charges and regains 1d20 at dawn. As an action you press one of its six faces, spend its charges, and an invisible 15-foot cube of force springs up centered on you. It moves with you and lasts 1 minute, until you press the sixth face to turn it off, or until the cube runs out of charges.

Each face blocks something different: gases, wind and fog (1 charge); nonliving matter (2); living matter (3); spell effects (4); or everything (5). Pressing another face switches the barrier and restarts the minute. It’s rare and requires attunement.

Who should carry it

Common questions

What does each face of the Cube of Force do?

Face 1 (1 charge): gases, wind and fog can’t pass. Face 2 (2): nonliving matter can’t pass. Face 3 (3): living matter can’t pass. Face 4 (4): spell effects can’t pass. Face 5 (5): nothing can pass. Face 6 (0): the barrier turns off.

Can I attack out of the Cube of Force?

The barrier stops what it blocks in both directions. With face 5, nothing gets in or out, including your own arrows and spells. With face 3, you can shoot out and enemies can shoot in.

How long does the barrier last?

1 minute. Pressing a different face changes the effect, spends its charges and resets the minute.

What can break a Cube of Force?

Certain spells and items drain its charges instead of breaking it: Disintegrate 1d12, a Horn of Blasting 1d10, Passwall 1d6, Prismatic Spray 1d20 and Wall of Fire 1d4. When the charges run out, the barrier drops.

Does the barrier protect my allies?

Yes, anyone inside the 15-foot cube with you. It’s centered on you and moves when you do.

Did the 2024 rules change the Cube of Force?

Completely. The 2024 cube has 10 charges, regains 1d6 at dawn, and casts spells at DC 17 instead of making a barrier: Mage Armor or Shield for 1 charge, Tiny Hut for 3, Private Sanctum or Resilient Sphere for 4, and Wall of Force for 5.

Cube of Force compared with similar magic

ItemHow it compares
Wall of Force5th-level spell: an unbreakable wall or dome for 10 minutes with concentration. Only Disintegrate destroys it.
Resilient Sphere4th-level spell: a sphere of force around one creature for a minute. Protection or a prison.
Globe of Invulnerability6th-level spell: a 10-foot-radius barrier that stops spells of 5th level or lower from affecting anyone inside.
Tiny Hut3rd-level ritual: an 8-hour dome for resting that keeps out creatures and spells.
Bead of ForceRare: throw it to deal 5d4 force and trap creatures in a sphere of force for a minute. One use each.

Cube of Force in the 2024 rules

The 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide revised the magic items, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new text. What changed:

Type
Wondrous Item
Rarity
Rare
Attunement
Required

This cube is about an inch across. Each face has a distinct marking on it. You can press one of those faces, expend the number of charges required for it, and thereby cast the spell associated with it (save DC 17), as shown in the Cube of Force Faces table.

The cube starts with 10 charges, and it regains 1d6 expended charges daily at dawn.

Cube of Force Faces

SpellCharge Cost
Mage Armor1
Shield1
Tiny Hut3
Private Sanctum4
Resilient Sphere4
Wall of Force5

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